Blogotariat

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Articles from The Tally Room

The role of below-the-line voting in NSW council results

September 11, 2024 - 09:30 -- Admin

Last week I wrote an analysis piece about the different shape of ballot papers in different parts of New South Wales – the urban areas and some large rural councils have above-the-line voting, small rural councils have a single column of ungrouped candidates, and there are some councils in between with a transitional mode.

I wanted to understand a bit more about below-the-line voting, at least in the places where a “line” exists.

Where are small or local parties running for council in NSW?

September 10, 2024 - 09:30 -- Admin

Most candidates running in the NSW council elections are independents, or belong to the three big urban parties.

Over 58% of candidates running for the council election are either independent or unaffiliated. 14% of candidates were nominated by the ALP, 9.9% by the Greens, and 7.3% by the Liberal Party.

This leaves 435 candidates – 10.8% of the total – running for registered parties outside of those big three, and that’s the topic of this blog post.

Victoria and WA redistributions wrap up, with minor changes

September 6, 2024 - 10:30 -- Admin

The Australian Electoral Commission yesterday announced the final decision for the federal redistributions in Victoria and Western Australia.

Unfortunately the AEC hasn’t yet published the maps, digital boundary files or data matching each SA1 to each electorate. While it may be possible to estimate these, I don’t have capacity with all of the elections going on now.

Podcast #129: NSW council election preview

September 6, 2024 - 06:30 -- Admin

 

Ben is joined by the Sydney Morning Herald urban affairs reporter Anthony Segaert to preview the upcoming New South Wales local government elections. We discuss some of the most interesting elections, the impact of the NSW Liberal absence and local party systems.

Sorry for the poor quality audio on my end – it seems like the recording connected to the wrong mic. Should still be clear enough.

Does democracy have a role in throwing out bad councils?

September 5, 2024 - 19:19 -- Admin

When the NSW Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig, announced an inquiry into the City of Liverpool in July, it seemed clear that the council was headed down the path seen by councils like Shellharbour, Warringah, Wingecarribee, Wollongong and Central Coast in the past. In the dying days of a council term, the state government intervenes and sacks the council, appoints administrators and delays the election.

Greens win Nightcliff from third place

September 4, 2024 - 18:12 -- Admin

After the Country Liberal Party clinched victory over the Greens in the seat of Fannie Bay, the Greens have surprisingly won the neighbouring seat of Nightcliff over former Labor chief minister Natasha Fyles.

The NTEC has only now conducted a preferential count between Labor and the Greens, seemingly with all primary votes now added to the count. With all of those distributed, the Greens beat Labor by 42 votes.

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